AMERICAN BASES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 301, 20 December 1943, Page 3

AMERICAN BASES

"SECURE POSSESSION"

Hoover On Sovereignty Of

Air Space

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright

Ree. II a.m

NEW YORK, Dec. 19,

America should move to secure outright possession of the military and air bases which she has built throughout the world, said Mr. Herbert Hoover, a former United States President. America's part in the war and the hundreds of millions of dollars of American taxpayers' money spent on these bases warranted their cession to America without qualification, he added.

Mr. Herbert Hoover

"Where such ownership is not feasible, possession through 999-year leases to satisfy questions of sovereignty might be acceptable," Mr. Hoover suggested. "America should make her own agreements with Egypt and get bases in Iceland by arrangement with Denmark. The Azores should become free commercial territory." Mr. Hoover said America should hesitate to relax her sovereignty of air space over the United States in post-war aviation. The chief objection to the right of flight over America would arise from difficulties with other nations. "I doubt whether any of the greater nations would be prepared to give the same right of free flight over their territories," he added. "I am wondering whether Russia would consent to free flight of American or British planes over Soviet territory."